Glencore and net zero by 2050

The costs of electricity generation of different energy sources are often debated. Often, however, no distinction is made as to which specific costs are meant. While renewable energies have marginal costs close to zero and very competitive levelized costs of electricity, a high and increasing share of weather-dependent renewables leads to system costs. They result, for example, from the provision of back-up power plants and the falling average capacity utilization of all existing power plants. We discuss the different types of costs of power generation and note that investments in renewables are easier to realize than the construction of new back-up power plants. [mehr]

Ist grüner Wasserstoff ein Allheilmittel gegen die Energiekrise? Nicht kurzfristig, sagt Eric Heymann, Senior Economist für Branchen, Technologie und Ressourcen bei Deutsche Bank Research. Die mittel- bis langfristigen Aussichten sind allerdings gut. [mehr]

Deutsche Bank Research recently hosted their 3rd annual Global ESG Conference. This year’s event was a hybrid virtual & in-person event with a Climate and Security day in New York focused on infrastructure and supply chain security, energy security, agriculture & biodiversity, as well as global cooperation & competition. [mehr]

Climate stress tests have emerged as a key tool for looking into the financial system’s vulnerability to climate risks. Banks’ exposure to climate risks stems from (1) physical risks that are closely related to geography, and (2) transition risks mainly from loans to carbon-intensive sectors. Exercises by the ECB and BoE suggest that banks’ credit losses in a disorderly transition would be higher than in an orderly transition scenario, and even higher in a “hot house world” with unabated global warming. Banks would be able to absorb climate-related losses due to strong capital buffers. Results are subject to data limitations and modelling constraints. So far, climate stress tests are declared learning exercises with no direct implications for capital requirements. However, supervisors are urging banks to set up a comprehensive climate risk management. [mehr]

Sustainability regulation, climate change, investor expectations, and consumer preferences have enhanced ESG related risks and opportunities. As a result, European Banks are putting significant resources towards environmental, social and governance objectives. [mehr]

Overall, was COP27 a success or failure? The answer likely depends on your expectations going into the conference. The event took place against a difficult geopolitical backdrop, rising inflation and an energy security crisis that some nations interpret as support for energy diversification strategies that align with fossil fuel growth. In a recent dbSustainability report the team discuss top 8 takeaways from COP27. [mehr]

The next iteration of UNFCC’s Conference of Parties, COP 27 is taking place in Egypt. As part of the Global South and home to one of world’s most diverse marine life, the location of Sharm-El-Sheikh in Egypt is quite relevant to this year’s conference. The event serves as the United Nation’s (UN) annual Climate Change summit and is intended to bring ~200 countries together to accelerate action towards goals of the Paris Agreement (2015) and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. [mehr]

Amidst the backdrop of rampant food inflation, this year’s COP27 in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh (November 6-18) will be critical. That is because food inflation has been stronger than overall inflation. In fact, in March the US hit an inflection point when food and beverages CPI outpaced broader CPI. This is not just a US issue. The food inflation problem is a global phenomenon. [mehr]

Europe is in the middle of an energy crisis. It’s grappling with two big challenges at the moment – urgently weaning itself off Russian energy, particularly gas, and moving to a cleaner energy economy. At times, those two goals seem to be in opposition to each other. [mehr]

Für den Finanzsektor gewinnt Sustainable Finance zunehmend an Bedeutung. Es steht für ein nachhaltiges Finanzsystem, das die Aspekte Umwelt, Soziales und gute Unternehmensführung (ESG-Aspekte) berücksichtigt. Die weltweiten Vermögenswerte mit einem ESG-Label wuchsen bis Ende 2020 auf ein Volumen von USD 35 Bill. und könnten bis Ende 2022 auf USD 41 Bill. ansteigen. Allerdings fehlt es immer noch an einer einheitlichen ESG-Definition und an Daten, was das weitere Wachstum bremst. Die Regulierung versucht, mit der Marktdynamik Schritt zu halten, und zielt darauf ab, den Kapitalfluss in nachhaltige Aktivitäten zu erleichtern. Dies umfasst die Ausarbeitung von Taxonomien, Offenlegungsvorgaben und produktbezogene Regulierung. Kurzfristig sorgen ein schwieriges makroökonomisches Umfeld und die Vielzahl der neuen regulatorischen Anforderungen für Gegenwind für Sustainable Finance, aber die fundamentalen Wachstumstreiber sind nach wie vor intakt. [mehr]

Mit Blick auf den von der Bundesregierung angekündigten Abwehrschirm und die Gaspreisbremse erklärt Stefan Schneider in der neuen Ausgabe von Podzept, wie er die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung in Deutschland einschätzt. [mehr]

New Podzept Podcast. The big bust in share prices of Alternative Food stocks has echoes of the dot.com boom & bust in 2000. Yet, just as the bursting of the tech bubble did not stop the inevitable development and adoption of technology, Deutsche Bank Research see the Food Tech revolution as likely continuing despite the cooling of last year’s market euphoria. Olga Cotaga and Luke Templeman, both Thematic Research Analysts, discuss the growth potential in the industry as it continues to simmer, but with the potential to change food as we know it. [mehr]